Variable height pile cutting apparatus in axminster looms



June 8, 1965 H. J. SMILEY ETAL 3,187,779

VARIABLE HEIGHT FILE CUTTING APPARATUS IN AXMINISTER LOOMS 18 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 20, 1962 I 1!. m 1 -w /m H x v i J\ \r/li/ W l -s o4 MEN! L J. x n o 2 QIMMJJIWA I o 0% 7 n a 3 HARRY J. SMILEY MAURICE W. WORTH June 8, 1965 J, SMILEY ETAL 3,187,779

VARIABLE HEIGHT PILE CUTTING APPARATUS IN AXMINISTER LOOMS Filed Dec. 20, 1962 18 Sheets-Sheet 2 HARRY J. SMILEY MAURICE W. WCRTH June 1965 H. J. SMILEY ETAL 3,187,779

VARIABLE HEIGHT FILE CUTTING APPARATUS IN AXMINISTER LOOMS Filed Dec. 20, 1962 18 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS HARRY J. SMILEY MAURICE W. WORTH.

June 8, 1965 H. J. SMILEY ETAL 3,187,779

VARIABLE HEIGHT FILE CUTTING APPARATUS IN AXMINISTER LOOMS Filed Dec. 20, 1962 18 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 8, 1965 H. J. SMILEY ETAL 3,187,779

VARIABLE HEIGHT FILE CUTTING APPARATUS IN AXMINISTER LOOMS Filed Dec. 20, 1962 18 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS HARRY J SMILEY MAURICE W. WORTH BY June 8, 1965 H. J. SMILEY ETAL VARIABLE HEIGHT PILE CUTTING APPARATUS IN AXMINISTER LOOMS l8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 20, 1962 INVENTORS HARRY J. SMILEY MAURICE W. WORTH June 8, 1965 H. J. SMILEY ETAL VARIABLE HEIGHT PILE CUTTING APPARATUS IN AXMINISTER LOOMS Filed D80. 20, 1962 18 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS HARRY J. SMILEY MAURICE W. WORTH June 8, 1965 H. J. SMILEY ETAL 3,187,779

VARIABLE HEIGHT PILE CUTTING APPARATUS IN AXMINISTER LOOMS l8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Dec. 20, 1962 INVENTORS HARRY J. SMILEY H T R O W w E m R U A M J1me 1965 H. J. SMILEY ETAL 3,187,779

VARIABLE HEIGHT FILE CUTTING APPARATUS IN AXMINISTER LOOMS Filed Dec. 20, 1962 18 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTORS HARRY J. SMILEY MAURlCE W. WORTH June 1955 H. J. SMILEY ETAL 3, 79

VARIABLE HEIGHT PILE CUTTING APPARATUS IN AXMINISTER LOOMS Filed Dec. 20, 1962 l8 Sheets-Sheet 10 I18 ,t 0 FIG. 25

74 go I INVENTORS HARRY J. SMILEY MAURICE W. WORTH BY I73 ,g a w June 8, 1965 H. J. SMILEY ETAL VARIABLE HEIGHT FILE CUTTING APPARATUS IN AXMINISTER LOOMS l8 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 Filed Dec. 20, 1962 INVENTORS HARRY J. SMILEY MAURICE W. WORTH FIG June 8, 1965 H. .1. SMILEY ETAL 3,137,779

VARIABLE HEIGHT PILE CUTTING APPARATUS IN AXMINISTER LOOMS 18 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Dec. 20, 1962 WORTH VI m mm.

YE m m A M FIG.3O

June 1955 H. J. SMILEY ETAL 3,137,779

VARIABLE HEIGHT PILE CUTTING APPARATUS IN AXMINISTER LOOMS Filed Dec. 20, 1962 18 Sheets-Sheet 13 INVENTORS HARRY J. SMiLEY MAURICE W. WORTH June 8, 1965 H. J. SMILEY ETAL VARIABLE HEIGHT PILE CUTTING APPARATUS IN AXMINISTER LOOMS Filed Dec. 20, 1962 18 Sheets-Sheet 14 PIC-3.37

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INVENTORS HARRY J. SMILEY MAURICE W. WORTH June 8, 1965 H, J. SMILEY ETAL 3,187,779

VARIABLE HEIGHT PILE CUTTING APPARATUS IN AXMINISTER LOOMS Filed Dec. 20, 1962 18 Sheets-Sheet 15 FIG.38 0

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INVENTORS HARRY J. SMILEY MAURICE W. WORTH June 8, 1965 H. J. SMILEY ETAL VARIABLE HEIGHT PILE CUTTING APPARATUS IN AXMINISTER LOOMS Filed Dec. 20, 1962 18 Sheets-Sheet l6 FIG.44

FIG. 46

INVENTORS HARRY J. SMILEY MAURICE W. WORTH June 8, 1965 H. J. SMILEY ETAL 3,187,779

VARIABLE HEIGHT FILE CUTTING APPARATUS IN AXMINISTER LOOMS Filed Dec. 20, 1962 18 Sheets-Sheet l7 ,o F|G.47

LLl I l I l IIT F IG.48

INVENTORS HARRY J. SMILEY MAURICE. W. WORTH BY 18 Sheets-Sheet 18 INVENTORS HARRY J. SMILEY MAURICE W. WORTH Aaa a, W

June 8, 1965 H, J. SMILEY ETAL VARIABLE HEIGHT FILE CUTTING APPARATUS IN AXMINISTER LOOMS Filed Dec. 20, 1962 FIG. 49

235 234 I I j 1 \HV fill/I117!!! i United States Patent Oifice 3,187,779 Patented June 8, 1965 3,157,779 VARIABLE HEIGHT FILE GUITENG APPARATUS IN AXWNS'IER LUGMS Harry J. Smiley and Maurice W. Worth, Glasgow, Va.,

assignors to Blames Lees and Sons Company, bridgeport, Pin, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 21 1952, Ser. No. 246,275 17 Claims. (Cl. 139-7) This invention relates to an improved multi-height Axminster fabric and an Axrninster car-pet loom for producing pile tufts of two or more different heights.

Conventionally an Axminster loom of the type used to produce soft floor coverings has been capable of producing only one pile height. The pile tufts are wiped into the warp shed in the loom, whereupon they are anchored, the tube frame raised, and all of the pile yarns are severed by means of a knife extending entirely across the breast beam of the loom. With the current style trend requiring the production of sculptured or multiheight pile to achieve acceptable design effects, many attempts have been made to produce multi-level pile on the Axrninster loom. Some of these have met with moderate success. However, the limitationsin the pattern effects that can be achieved are substantial and, for the most part, it has been only possible to produce geometric designs of high and low uncut pile on an Axminster type loom.

The present invention permits the production of high and low cut pile on an Axminster loom in which it is possible to achieve much wider pattern effects since the present invention provides a more or less random control of the areas in which the low pile tufts are present and similarly the areas in which the high pile tufts are present. This is accomplished by threading only selected tubes in each tube frame with pile yarns. The Axminster loom is modified so that the pile yarns in any given tube frame may be cut high or low as desired. It will be understood that, by repeating a selected group of yarns in a series of successive tube frames, a continued area less than the entire width of the fabric may have either high or low pile as desired.

Conventional Axrninster looms for producing pile carpets are of two types. The older, or comb-type, uses a comb to wipe up the pile tufts before the reed beats up against the fell. The noseboard Axminster loom employs a reed which beats up with alternately short and full strokes. On the full stroke the reed carries the last shot and the pile tufts up and over the hook of the noseboard which has the effect of wiping up the trailing ends of the inserted row of pile. We have modified both of the above conventional looms to produce selected high and low cut pile tufts. The modification takes slightly difierent forms depending upon which loom is employed. In the comb loom We provide a separate drive with alternate high and low movements of the comb to which an elevator bar is attached whereby in one part of the cycle the fabric is raised from the breast beam of the loom higher than at another portion of the cycle so that the height of the pile depends upon the elevation of the fabric at the time the knives cut.

in the case of the noseboard loom, we mount the knives on a vertically oscillating subfrarne which is timed to raise and lower the knives to provide the cutting for the high and low pile. Suitable mechanism for displacing previous pile tufts from the knives is likewise provided in both cases. This insures that in the transition from a high series of tufts to a low series of tufts none of the high tufts improperly extends between the knives.

A primary object of the invention, therefore, is to provide an attachment for an Axminster loom to cyclically vary the distance from the tube frames at which a series of pile tufts are severed.

A further object of the invention is to provide in an Axminster loom means for displacing the cutting point vertically for selected series of pile tufts.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a comb-type Axrninster loom a stepped comb for elevating the fabric at predetermined positions in the weaving cycle.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a noseboard Axminster loom, means for cyclically raising and lowering the knives with respect to the nose of the loom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a loom for producing successive rows of either high or low tufts in an Axrninster high and low cut .pile fabric.

A further object of the invention is to provide in an Axminster loom for producing high and low pile, means for displacing pile tufts from the cutting means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a multi-level Axminster pile fabric having predetermined random areas of high and low cut pile.

Further objects will be apparent from thespecification and drawings in which FIG. 1 is a side view of a comb-type Axminster loom constructed in accordance with the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a top View of a part of the structure of FIG. 1 as seen at 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a top view of the chain drive portion of the structure of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is an end view of the structure of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section as seen at 5-5 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 with the cam turned FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section as seen at 77 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 8 shows the structure of FIG. 6 with the cam moved approximately 180,

FIGS. 920 are schematic diagrams showing the successive steps in weaving a series of rows of high and low tufts on a comb-type Axminster loom as modified by the present invention,

FIGS. 21-23 show a modification for avoiding cutting of high tufts,

FIG. 24 is a top view showing the vertically oscillating knife supporting structure as applied to a noseboard Axminster loom,

FIG. 25 is a section of the structure of FIG. 23 as seen at 25-25,

FIGS. 26-40 are views similar to FIGS. 8-19 but showing the successive steps of weave series of high and low pile tufts on a noseboard Axminster loom,

FIG. 41 is a view as seen at 41.41 of FIG. 37 showing the knives just before cutting takes place,

FIG. 42 shows the knives of FIG. 41 in a moved positign as cutting progresses and as seen at 4242 of FIG. 3

FIG. 43 is an exploded perspective showing an Axminster three shot fabric having alternating rows of high and low pile tufts,

FIG. 44 is an end view of the fabric of FIG. 43,

FIG. 45 shows a three shot exploded Axminster fabric having two adjacent rows of low tufts and a succeeding row of high tufts,

FIG. 46 is an end View of the fabric of FIG. 45,

FIG. 47 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the loom modification for producing the fabric of FIG. 45,

FIG. 48 is an end view of the structure of FIG. 47,

FIG. '49 is a modified drive for the camshaft of the Axminster loom utilizing a gear box instead of chains and sprockets, and

FIG. 50 is a section as seen at 505% of FIG. 49.

The invention comprises essentially the provision of a cam controlled actuating linkage for the comb in a combtYPe Axminster loom. With a special cam plate and sprocket driven from the loom camshaft, it is possible to selectively'control the height to which the comb is elevated on alternate portions of the cycle or, if desired, more frequently during the cycle. In either case, one actuation of the comb in a cycle takes place in which the relative height of comb elevation is less than the height in other portions of the cycle. Raising the comb produces low pile and permitting the comb to remain at a relatively minimum raised position produces high pile. The depth 'of tube frame penetration into the shed also varies inversely with the comb elevation.

Alternatively in a noseboard loom, it is possible to cyclically raise and lower the knives when it is desired to out high or low pile. The motion for raising the knives is likewise controlled through suitable linkage from the loom camshaft.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings a comb-type Axminster loom partially shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 has a frame 50, chain warp and stuffe'r, warp beams 51 and '52 journaled on the loom frame, and fabric take-up rollers 53, 54 and 55, which may direct the finished fabric onto a take-up beam in front of the loom (not shown) or to other take-up means in the back of the loom in which case the fabric F passes around roller 56. The main camshaft 60 is journaled in the loom frame as may be seen in FIGURE 2 and a combination sprocketcam plate 61 is freely journaled on the camshaft 60. Depending upon the number of successive rows of high and/ or low tufts desired, the speed reduction between the camshaft 60 and the crankshaft of the loom may be determined in accordance with the ratio of the diameters of sprockets 62 and 63. The interconnecting drive between sprockets 62 and 63 is provided by a chain 64 which turns a jackshaft 65 through sprocket 66. A sprocket 67 is also keyed to jackshaft 65 and drives the large sprocket 62 through chain 68. The ratio of sprockets 63, 66, and 67 is 1:1 whereas the ratio of sprocket 62 to sprocket 63 is 2:1. It will thus be seen that shaft 60 turns twice as fast as sprocket 62.

Sprocket 62 is provided with a cam or lobe 70 which pivots the front or high tuft actuating linkage journaled on shaft 71 and also the back or low tuft actuating linkage journaled on shaft 72. One actuation of each linkage occurs for each revolution of sprocket 62. This, of course, equals a single actuation for each revolution of shaft 60. The front linkage for elevating the comb 75 comprises a rocker arm 76 pivoted on shaft 71, a cam follower or roller 77 secured to rocker arm 76, a reversing rocker 78 journaled on shaft 79, one end of the reversing rocker 78 being connected to arm 76 by a link 80 and the other being connected to a lever 81 through a link 82. Lever 8 1 is keyed to rockshaft 83 which is provided with a shorter lever, 84 connected to the comb elevating rod 85. This rod is provided with a turnbuckle 86 which permits proper adjustment of the comb 75 with regard to the timing of cam 70, Lever 81 is also connected to the rear rocker arm 88 by means of a rod 89 having an adjusting turnbuckle 90. Sprocket 62 turns in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIGURES 1, 4, and 6 so that displacement of roller 77 to the right elevates comb 75 and this actuation of comb 75 through fully hereinafter.

roller 77 occurs once per revolution of the sprocket 62 which corresponds to two revolutions of shaft 60.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, it will be seen that roller 92 on rocker 88, when out of contact with cam 70, is normally positioned nearer the center of sprocket 62 than is the case with roller 77. When the cam displaces roller 77 to elevate comb 75, the height to which the comb is raised will therefore be less than the height to which the comb is raised when it is actuated by roller 92 and rod 89. With a single cam on sprocket 62, the alternate high and low raising of the comb produces a fabric in Which alternate weftwise rows of pile tufts are cut high and low and the relative height of the tufts depends upon the difference in relative elevations of the 4 comb 75. The actuation of rod 89 at the opposite part of the cycle through roller 92 is shown in FIGURE 8.

We control the limit for tuft insertion by the tube frame 95 in timed relation to the comb action by means of the same cam 7 0. Referring now to FIGURE 5, cam 70 strikes a roller 97 on rocker 98 also journaled on shaft 71. Pivoting of rocker 98 raises the spool motion stop rod 99 through bell cranks 100 and 101, connecting link 102, and adjustable rod 163 provided with turnbuckle 104. This action limits the depth that tube frame 95 dips into the shed in timed relation to the actuation of the comb and needle (FIG. 10) as will be explained more Dipping of the tube frame 95 at the 180 position of the cycle (FIG. 16) occurs when cam 71 strikes roller on rocker arm 1116 which is also pivoted on shaft 72. Displacement of roller 105 limits the dip of tube frame 95 through movement of rod 107 which is connected to hell crank 100. Adjustment of rod 107 is accomplished through turnbuckle 108 and it will be noted that the amplitude of movement of the dipping rod 99 is adjustable. It will be understood that the depth to which the tube frame 95 clips in the shed varies depending upon whether or not a high or low tuft is to be produced. The reason for this resides in the fact that the extent to which. the pile yarn extends through the shed controls the height of the back tuft leg since the knives shear only the front leg.

On the formation of low pile as shown in FIG. 5, the limit control rod 99 for the tube frame 95 has been raised to an elevated position indicated by the clearance between the stop 109 on the control rod and stationary frame memher 110. Thus the extent at which the pile yarns are inserted in the shed and particularly at the time the reed beats up to lock the pile yarns in the fell of the fabric is determined by the vertical position of rod 99. The tube frame and spool 111 are actuated in accordance with the conventional motion of the Axminster loom. The modification for purposes of the present invention being to cyclically vary the length of pile yarn extending through theshed on selective dips of the tube frame in accordance with the formation of high .or low pile tufts. In FIG. 6 the movement of the control rod 99 is less than the movement in FIG. 5 since the greater dip will be required to provide a longer back tuft leg. If desired, the

linkage shown in FIG. 6 may be dispensed with entirely.

if stop 109 is made adjustable and comes to rest on frame at the proper position for forming the maximum dip :vhich in turn provides the desired length for the high tuft Referring now to FIGURES 923, the weaving cycle for producing a three shot Axminster high and low pile fabric on a comb loom will be described. FIGURE 9 shows the reed 115 beating up the last double weft shot 116 over the breastplate 117. The comb 75 is retracted during the beat-up. FIGURE 10 shows the reed 115 retracted, the insertion of the next subsequent double weft shot 118 by needle 119, and tube-frame 95 dipping into the shed to insert the next row of pile tufts 120. The

warp sheds have opened with the chain warp 121 raised, and stuifer warp 122 as well as chain warp 123 lowered. The comb 75 is beginning its upward movement. In FIGURE 11 the reed 115 has beaten up the weft 118 into the fell of the fabric and the pile tuft is now in between the last weft 118 and the previous weft 116. Comb 75 continues to elevate towards the fell of the fabric. In FIGURE 12 the reed has again retracted to permit the insertion of the next double weft 125, the chain warps 121 and 123 having completed a reversal. The comb 75 has now wiped up the tuft 120 to a position just below the back knife 126 which is advancing in cooperation with the front knife 127 to the cutting position. Tube frame 95 has now been retracted to a point above the path of knives 126 and 127. In the next portion of the cycle as seen in FIGURE 13, the reedhas beaten up weft 125, comb 75 has retracted, and the knives 

1. IN AN AXMINSTER PILE FABRIC LOOM HAVING A DIPPING SPOOL MOTION AND A PAIR OF KNIVES FOR SHEARING PILE TUFT LEGS, THE SUBCOMBINATION WHICH COMPRISES CYCLICALLY CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR VARYING THE EXTENT OF SPOOL MOTION DIP IN ACCORDANCE WITH A PATTERN, MEANS INCLUDING A CAM FOR CONTROLLING SAID MECHANISM, AND MEANS FOR CYCLICALLY PRESENTING SHORT AND LONG TUFT LEGS TO SAID KNIVES IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND IN TIMED RELATION TO THE MEANS FOR VARYING THE DIP OF THE SPOOL MOTION. 